Thank You for Letting God Use You

Happy New Year!!!!

Welcome to 2012! New Year’s is always an interesting holiday for me. Growing up it was always a time to invite all our friends over to our house for a party. We would stay up late and cheer when it turned midnight. Then we would simply say good-night to people and they would all go home. People often make a big deal about looking back and looking forward. People dissect their last year and how they have grown or failed and then decide that they will be better next year. In reality though, life is no different. People still wake up and go to school or back to work, they still eat the same breakfast, and drink the same cup of coffee. They continue to read the newspaper and download apps to their phone. All of us still eat at the same restaurants and hang out with same people. So what is the big deal about New Year’s?

I think New Year’s is a big deal for different reasons for different people. For me it isn’t really a big deal. I am not one to have some big resolution or anything, but I am one to take a moment to look back. I am a guy who is constantly looking forward to know how to be better, but I am not good at taking a moment to thank God for all the things that He has done this past year to prove to me and my family that He is still on the throne and in control. So on New Year’s I like to take a deep breath and consider those things. I thought it would be fun for me to write them down this year so you too could be encouraged by the things our God has done. So I invite you to take me a moment to drink in God’s goodness.

January 2011

· I started the year healthy

· I began my last semester as a 33 year old college senior

· God took us safely to New Orleans for the first visit to Communitas (Safe but not void of a traffic ticket J) God is still Just!

February 2011

· God began really drawing our hearts to New Orleans

· We enjoyed a real deepness and encouragement from a group of Godly people who came to our house every Tuesday to pray and eat

· We celebrated the 2^nd birthday of our wonderful daughter Myah

March 2011

· We celebrated Mardi Gras at our house for the first time with lots of friends

· Our discipleship groups with the youth began to experience real community and authentic discussion of how to follow Jesus

· We were able to bring the whole family to visit NOLA and God answered many prayers we were praying:

o Our kids told us they wanted to live here

o God gave us a clear peace and calmness about moving to NOLA

o God gave us favor as we began telling our pastor and close friends about our new plans

o We received a new desire and passion to live among and love lost people

· I was pulled over again on this trip but saw God’s grace as we did not get a ticket

April 2011

· God gave me the opportunity to teach in the schools and was able to share with them my passion for Christ

· God allowed us to have peace in the ending of the discipleship groups we had started three years before

May 2011

· I GRADUATED!!!!

· God gave us peace and boldness as we, as a family, stood in front of our wonderful church family and through tears told them that we would be leaving in July

· I was able to watch many dear youth graduate and begin their transition to college and a new chapter in their lives

· We had a positive affirming visit from Chad, a member of the team we would be joining in the Fall

June 2011

· God began giving us our first supporters and prayer warriors for our new adventure of being missionaries

· God opened many doors to have very intentional conversations with many youth who were struggling through the idea that we would no longer be there to lead them on the journey of faith

July 2011

· God used 55 youth and adults from Campbellsville Baptist Church to minister and learn from Grace Centers of Hope as we together loved and served the homeless in Detroit, MI

· God allowed me to finish well as the youth pastor and allowed us to have some very precious final days in Campbellsville with all the people we love and miss so much

· We were able to move out of our lovely little home with lots of friends helping and making lunch

· God gave us an overwhelmingly awesome final day in C-ville as youth and friends and families spent time sitting on our empty living room floor encouraging us and praying for and with us as we began our new adventure

August 2011

· God gave us the most amazing time with my family in California as we stayed with them for almost 5 weeks

· God answered our begging and pleading for support as we started our first 2 weeks at 2% funded and that changed over night to 14%

· God allowed us to have some God ordered meetings with countless people who we have known in the past. And as they prepared meals for us and listened as we told them about our new adventure, God gave us favor as we saw our support go from 14% to 22% funded

September 2011

· We loaded our U-Haul truck and were able to fit everything in

· We had traveling mercies and were able to land in NOLA safely and easily

· We saw God work in allowing our kids to fit in and transition quickly and easily

· We were able to be a part of a beautiful wedding of two of our new community members - Beth and Taylor

· God quickly opened doors for us to build relationships with the neighbors on our street and neighborhood

· I had the blessing of finding a job right away doing construction

October 2011

· God continued to open doors with people who had decided to support us financially as we found ourselves at 40% funded

· We had the joy of visitors from Kentucky! Yep Jen’s parents and a nephew came to stay for a long weekend and to encourage us

· We continued to meet new people in our neighborhood like Steve at Midway Pizza and Warren and Laurie at Village Coffee and Tea

· We also saw individuals and Sunday School classes from Campbellsville Baptist Church sponsor us every month for the next year to go to Midway and Village Coffee and Tea so we could continue to build relationships and be around those who are lost

November 2011

· We continued to enjoy God’s blessings of His people supporting us as we found ourselves at 43% funded

· We had the opportunity to meet and have some really great spiritual conversations with a guy named Nick and met some new neighbors on our street

· We had the opportunity to dress up once again like pilgrims and share the Thanksgiving meal with close to forty neighbors, friends, and team members

December 2011

· Again we experienced unending joy as we saw new supporters join our team and we found ourselves 48% funded for the year

· We had the opportunity to spend Christmas with my mom and dad who came to visit for 9 days

· We also were blessed and encouraged by a group of friends who came to visit us for three days from Kentucky. Their presence reminded us how much we miss Campbellsville and also how much we are more than friends, we are family.

· We have been reminded of God’s grace and how important the fellowship of believers really is

So here we are… it’s 2012 and time to get back to the rhythms of life of going back to waking up and going to work, but in the midst of all that, I will do it with confidence that the Lord is still good and wants the best for us. If the New Year begins, I know one thing for sure…. If God is as good to us as He was last year, we have a lot to look forward to. We pray God blesses you as you continue to love and follow Him this next year.

Thank you to all who have given of your time and finances to make this past year a true testimony to how great God is. We love and miss all of you greatly. Continue to pray for us and plead with God that we may share Christ’s love with all who we encounter.

It's Amazing What You See

2 Corinthians 4:18
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Revelation 1:7
Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!

Luke 24:39
Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”

Mark 8:33
Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

So the other day I decided to get up really early (5:15am) and get dressed and take the first bus into downtown. I wanted to see what the attitudes were of those on the bus on their way to work. I was pleasantly surprised at the gratitude and joy that was present. Next week I plan to tell you more about that, but this week I want to share something else.

It was a Friday and I was simply taking some time to be by myself and decided to walk around downtown with a specific mission. I was looking for something. See, I think it is always amazing what you see when you are looking for it. So instead of just walking around town, I wanted to look for something specifically and I chose to look for empty chairs. That's right, empty chairs. "Why empty chairs?" you ask. Well, because empty chairs are often discarded and set off the beaten path. I took pictures of all kinds of chairs. They were all different, and were all in different stages of their lives. Some were new looking and others rusty and broken. Some were dirty from lack of use and others were clearly used and cleaned daily. It actually reminded me of people in life. We were all created for the same purpose, and all of us, on our journey, have been treated differently and are at different stages in our lives, but still possess the same purpose.

As I took pictures and allowed my random thoughts to marinate on this analogy, I began to get excited about this city. My mind began to race, and this desire to help the people of this city rediscover their purpose became like a raging fire. I wanted to find people that had been broken and tossed to the side and help restore them so they could once again do what they were created for.

The verses I put at the top help us remember to see the right things. It is so easy for us to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life on the busy streets and walk right past those that are discarded and broken. This begins by fixing our gaze on the things of Heaven and then looking for what our Heavenly Father wants us to see.

Pray for us as we are here in New Orleans and are trying to fix our gaze on Christ and trying to be open to seeing what God wants us to be doing here. Take some time in the next week or two and just walk around your town and take pictures of one thing and see how many of that thing you see. Remember, it is amazing the things you see when you are looking for them.

Enjoy some of my pictures of the chairs I found.

The Giver of All Good Things

God’s economy is so different from ours—so upside down. Somehow in the giving away of our lives, we find real life. Somehow in looking out for the interests of others, we find our own needs met. It doesn’t make sense in theory, but in practice it is absolutely remarkable.

Dave shared with me the other day that he felt God was prompting him to give some money to help out a friend we’ve gotten to know here in New Orleans. When I asked how much, he didn’t respond right away. It took a few days, but finally Dave told me an amount. It was a sizeable amount, so he asked me if I thought that was okay. I’ve seen God use Dave’s generosity before and so I encouraged him by saying that if that’s what he felt we should give, then we should give it! So, I went to the bank last Tuesday to withdraw the money, put it in an envelope and passed it to our team leader who gave it to our friend anonymously. It was sweet to hear the response of our friend via our team leader because it was exactly the amount he needed.

Two days later, we received in the mail two separate checks from friends back in Kentucky. One check was for the exact amount that we had given to our friend. The check was dated the same day Dave had told me the amount he wanted to give. The second check was from someone who already supports us monthly. She had included a note with her support saying she had received some extra blessings this month from others because of her service and generosity to them. She wanted to pass on the extra to us. So, not only did God provide the exact amount for what our friend needed, he gave us more! And we didn’t even know we had that much to give! Sure, God could have just dropped that money into our friend’s lap. Sure, we could just all take care of our own needs and just worry about covering ourselves. But what happens when we trust the Lord and following His promptings to give? We see a more accurate picture of Who really is the Provider! We see God at work in the lives of so many different people. We see His amazing ability to coordinate the hearts of His children. We see His care and love for us and for those who don’t know Him yet. Yes, the giving and sharing and obeying the Lord results in thanksgiving to Him—the One from whom all good things come anyway!!

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:12-15)

This passage is talking about you, my brothers and sisters, and your generosity and obedience that have blessed us in so many ways. But ultimately, it is speaking of Christ, for our grateful hearts turn to him and overflow in thanksgiving for who He is and for all the ways He has turned our lives upside down!

The sunrise on the darkest night

Do you ever have one of those days when you just don't hit on all cylinders? You know those days when things are just not going right no matter what you try? You try hard to pull yourself together and try to have a great attitude, but it just doesn't work? Well, last Thursday was one of those days for me and I was just not up to par. I wasn't sick, I was just filled with an assortment of emotions that left me feeling discouraged in my spirit. Mainly self-pity stuff. You know, those arguments you have with yourself and God that usually go round and round about how you think your plans are better than God's plan for your life? It's a lot like the conversations that the Israelites had with God in the wilderness after Egypt. They would be happy about being free one minute and then be complaining about not having meat to eat the next. Well, that’s what was happening for me and I was rolling around and wrestling with God about bringing us down here to New Orleans.

On my way home from work that day I cried out to God for some sort of encouragement for my spirit. Then when I arrived home I went in took a shower and did my daily check of my email and there in my inbox were two emails from godly friends in Kentucky. The emails were both very similar. They both basically said that they were praying for me today and that they felt God telling them to send a note of encouragement and on top of that, both of them had decided to begin supporting us financially!

I don’t know if you have ever been really discouraged and received a note from a friend far away, but it is so refreshing. It is like seeing the sunrise on the darkest night. It was an answer to prayer--a perfect ending to a terrible day. I cannot tell you how awesome it is to receive something when you are down. The emails weren’t very long, but they were just what my spirit needed. Then this morning during our time in God’s word as a community we read these verses from 2 Corinthians 9,“6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. 13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

You never know when what you write may be the sunrise on someone’s darkest night.When we are following God and aware of His presence in our lives, we have the opportunity to either bless others or be blessed by them. I came away from this week here on the mission field ready to love people more and to listen to His still small voice when He prompts me to contact or encourage or give to someone in need. May we all walk daily in the presence of God so we can be the sunrise in someone’s darkest night.

Getting There

The West Bank. Algiers. The French “Qwahtah.” The CBD. St. Charles. Freret. Uptown. It’s hard to believe that just two and half weeks ago those words were just a string of syllables attached to New Orleans. Now they hold meaning and memories and faces…and direction! Now those words conjure up thoughts about the DMV and how complicated it can be to change your driver’s license; about tiny cupcake stores in the midst of the inner city (thank you Sarah Collie); about bachelorette parties where friends care about each other; about local art and funny smells; about street cars and homeless people; about new businesses trying to make it and their owners who you know by name; about playgrounds and grocery stores and puddles knee-deep.

Part of immersing in a culture requires that we understand the place where we live and how to get around. We all do that in our own ways. Dave loves riding his bike a different route every other day and learning how everything connects. Others of us (like myself) prefer driving with someone in the passenger’s seat who knows the way, at least the first couple of times. And right alongside us, our kiddos are figuring out this place too. Silas has different “signs” that tell us we are almost home—like the clump of short palm trees about 2 blocks from our house. Even Myah knows the name of the street where the street cars run, St. Charles which sounds more like “Saint Chawuls” when she says it.

A couple of days ago, I took the kids out to run some errands with me. I was feeling decently confident about getting around and was narrating our progress to the kids. “Well, we’ve been to the post office and to the bank and now we’re on our way to the grocery store,” I announced. From the back seat, Silas pipes up, “And all that without Dad. Good job, Mom!” Well, I guess it’s no secret who is better at directions in this family!! Nonetheless, we are all navigating the streets of this new culture with excitement and joy. My prayer is that as we discover the culture, our love for the people deepens. May our understanding of the love of Christ for us compel us to meet the needs around us. May you be blessed as you drive or walk or bike the road you are on—familiar or not. The Lord is with you and with us. He guides our way, even if we don’t know the way yet.

The Tree of Life

This morning we had the joyous privilege of participating in the wedding ceremony of Beth and Taylor, two single adults who are a part of our team here in NOLA. It was a beautiful day and an awesome wedding. The ceremony took place under this tree in a big Park here in New Orleans. The tree was called "The Tree of Life" and it was magnificent!!! It was probably 16-20 ft. in diameter and its huge branches reached down to the ground and was actually sprouting new trees. It is one of the coolest trees I have ever seen.

After the wedding Silas decided to climb the tree... well one of the branches anyway. You can see his face on the left there. He was so confident when he started. He had seen some of the other boys climbing it and wanted to do it as well, but when he got to be about 5-6' off the ground he began to freeze up and say he couldn't go any further. It wasn't until I took his hand and gave him some encouraging words that he was able to go past this point in climbing this awesome tree! Look at what Ephesians says in Chapter 3:16-19 -

"¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

To be honest, the last couple of months have been really exciting for us, but they have also been really scary for us. We have seen and talked to so many people that have left all the security of life to go to a place that God was calling them. We have seen God do amazing things in their lives, and like Silas seeing the other boys climb, we wanted to follow God where He was leading us. We got really excited, packed up our house, and quit our jobs and began the trek to New Orleans. Once we got into it though, I personally lived with a lot of fear. I had thoughts like: "What have I done to my family?" "What if it doesn't work out?" "What if people don't get the vision and support us?" "What if God wasn't talking, and it was just me?" It wasn't until people like you began giving us your hand so to speak, that we began having real confidence in what God was calling us to do. We have had people come alongside us and give us encouraging words, financial support, notes of gratitude and thanks, we have received phone calls (which I like a lot), and we have been prayed for by so many people.

This wedding today was such a beautiful picture of this for me as well. Here are two people totally sure they want to be together and they have seen other marriages work and they want that too. On the flip side though, we were there because we know that there will not only be smiles and joy in that marriage. There will be heartbreak and sadness. There will be misunderstandings and hard times. Those of us who came to witness the ceremony were also there to say, "Take my hand, we want to walk this journey with you. We want to encourage and help you on this new adventure."

So here we are in New Orleans. We have been here a week and the thing that I have thought about the most was not unpacking boxes, or figuring out where the store is so we can eat, although those are important things. The thing I thought about the most was how confident I was in the Lord because there are so many people who are holding our hands and praying for us and routing for us as we step out on faith on this new adventure. So I would like to say a big THANK YOU friends, family, prayer warriors, financial supporters, for being that hand that has given us the reassurance that the climb may be scary, but we won't fall and we won't be alone. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

Before I end this short epistle of gratitude, there are two people that I really want to say thank you to. They have sacrificed their space, their food, their time, and their lives to make our first month of this journey a success and a beautiful launching pad for the coming months and years. Thanks, Mom and Dad Collie, for all the little things you did and sacrificed for us to be in this place now. We love you and are proud to call you not only family, but friends!!! Thanks for holding our hand and giving us confidence in the Lord God Almighty!!! Cheers!!!

NOLA - Home Sweet Home!!!

Well, here we are!! Look at the Collies sitting on their front steps in New Orleans!!! Three and a half days ago we pulled up in front of 2601 Octavia Street New Orleans, La. 70115. Within a few hours of arriving our new team of friends helped us unload our moving truck. By dinner time we and our new friends were eating and laughing in our new living room on our couches!!! That night, each one of the Collies fell asleep in their very own beds with their own pillows for the first time in six weeks. It was GLORIOUS!! Praise God for the journey, the safety, and the fellowship we enjoyed during the past six weeks. We would like to give a great big shout out and thanks to Buck and Sue Collie for making our California trip absolutely FANTABULOUS!!!!

We would also like to say thanks to The Weston Family in Jackson, Mississippi, for a great night on the town, delicious dinner, and their encouraging words!!!

Thanks also to The Clark Family in Jackson, Tennessee, that we had the privilege to spend time with and relive the old times, pray for each other, and make new memories as we were the first to wish Dave Clark a Happy Birthday since we were still up chatting it up after midnight.

Look at this cute picture here. These people we will miss greatly. Family is a wonderful thing, especially when that family loves God, loves each other, and is willing as a family to sacrifice so others can be introduced to the grace God offers to all. We had such a wonderful time spending the night and morning with such awesome loving people. Thanks Larry and Rita, Michelle and boys, and Trent and Sarah!! Our last night in Campbellsville, Kentucky, was amazing!!

As I mentioned before, California was superb. This wonderful family made it possible to get to the airport on time without having to get up before God on Tuesday morning. We couldn't have asked for a better last night in California. From the time relaxing in the pool, to the fantastic food for dinner, the wonderful company, and a great game of Settlers of Catan. Thanks Darryl and Tania and boys, for allowing your home and lives to be used to bless so many with your love and hospitality. Pleasanton, California, is a better place because you live there.

So as I close, I say thank you, God, for getting us here safely. We look forward to what God will do with us as His tools. We say thanks for all those who have made the journey to this point possible. From your support financially, to your wonderful hospitality and meals, your prayers and texts. We love each one of you who are behind us on this new ADVENTURE!!

COME ON ADVENTURE.... WE'RE READY!!!!